08 stumpy elite head tube flared

so i had a little noise coming from the headset area so i started taking stuff apart. When i took the fork out of the bike the bottom cap which would normally be pressed in fell out into my hand. this is definately not a good thing. Has anyone had any other problems with this. I am going to the bike shop today where i bought it. I have already had the rear chain stay replaced on this frame

I have the same ride and have kept an eye on the headset, it came loose a lot during break-in. Anyways, flared head-tube is basically the end of your frame - depending on the issue it might be warrantied... but if the head-tube is looking really ovalized(from a big hit) you'll probably get denied..

How are the bearings from that headset? Post some good pics maybe.. otherwise just take it to your shop. Was it the OEM headset?

i took it into the shop yesterday and told them that the bottom cup would fall out of the headtube. They checked it out and were suprised so they called specialized and told them that not only the bottom cup was falling out, but the top cup was as well. Specialized wanted to know if i was running an oem headset which i am fortunately. The specialized rep tried to say it sounded like rider error but the lbs told them that there were no dings or anything around it this was definetely a manufacture error. Specialized requested that they send video of the cups pushing in by hand and pulling out the same way. Hopefully this will be enough evidence for a new frame.

i took it into the shop yesterday and told them that the bottom cup would fall out of the headtube. They checked it out and were suprised so they called specialized and told them that not only the bottom cup was falling out, but the top cup was as well. Specialized wanted to know if i was running an oem headset which i am fortunately. The specialized rep tried to say it sounded like rider error but the lbs told them that there were no dings or anything around it this was definetely a manufacture error. Specialized requested that they send video of the cups pushing in by hand and pulling out the same way. Hopefully this will be enough evidence for a new frame.

Well, hard to say if it was rider error. I have a crappy bottom bracket shell on my 08 elite, everything is fine according to them but, i've never seen one as bad or has such a creak. So yeah.. not sure what was going on at Specialized's supplier, meridia during that time.